So now I'm really starting to shake in my shoes as to whether or not the insurance might total the car. I got two estimates on the repair of the 'vert:

Greg's Collision Center in Bellflower (recommended by a friend) wants ~$3,250 to fix it, but it was not a final estimate. The estimator told me that he would need to tear it down to finalize it since there may be more damage than he could see.

Precision Paint and Body in Whittier (my first choice) wants $4,300 to fix it. This guy does amazing work and has restored several muscle cars (including his own '89 IROC Convertible), as well as work on high-end and exotic cars. When I went in, he had an '02 Corvette in there that just received $17,000 worth of front end repair- couldn't even tell it had been scratched. There was also a Rolls Royce, a Porsche 930 with a built Chevy 350 in it, couple of BMW's, a 1955 Chevy Bel-Air, etc. etc. All looked cherry.

Kelly lists the blue book value of the 'vert at $5,600, but I hope the Insurance Co. will still not want to total it, which I won't let happen. Wish me luck!

 

Jerry,
You're cutting it close, but it may be that the insurance company will go ahead and fix it.

 

Since it wasn't your fault at all, and their client was driving drunk and hit your legally parked car, they may want to "total" it; but you probably have the leverage to make them give you the money and still keep the car. Furthermore, if they want to "total" it, demand full market value, not the repair price. Don't let them do anything that would cause your car to have a "salvage" title. From the prices you have had quoted, if you receive the $5600.00 book value, you should have enough to fix it. Worst case scenario is that it might cost more than fair market value, and you end up out of pocket a little. By the way is $5600 high book or low book? You should insist on "high book" since that is the retail price you would expect to pay to replace the car with a like car in similar condition from a used car dealer. You might also have the additional leverage to force them to actually replace the car if they want to total it instead of just giving you money for it. Let them find out how rare your convertable is.

 

If you want a third estimate try Brea Auto Body 714-990-1500 ask for Dave. They are doing my 1990 Iroc right now and I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it!

 

Unfortunately, insurance companies stopped using the Blue Book to estimate value a few years ago. What they typically do now is pay for a service to scour the Recycler, Auto Trader ...etc to see what similar cars are selling for.

I had to deal with this when my El Camino was stolen. High Retail Blue Book was $4800. The ins. company offered me $2500.

I had to put up a fuss and also had to pull ads myself of similarly equipped El Caminos to show the car was worth more. It also helped that the head adjuster had just settled a case involving a V8 El Camino and backed up my claim of value.

In the end, I got $3900.